Organising SU is not easy. It involves months of preparations, planning, excitement and fears, and above all hard work. But there is nothing more demotivating than not having enough participants. Here comes the role of PR. But where can this be more visible than in a statutory event? Unfortunately, this year the Agora dates are just after the deadline for apply
ing for SU, so your only chance to promote your SU is the upcoming EBM. That’s why here I am sharing with you 5 ideas how you can inspire people to come to your Summer Course or Travelling Summer University….
Number 1: Produce useful gadgets.
Of course it depends on the budget you have, but the more original you are, the more people would like it. The one I remember the most are the matches of a SU that were distributed in Agora Leiden in the Netherlands (where for sure nobody is smoking). That were real matches’ boxes with just stick above, showing the logo, name and dates of the SU. Really low cost and original. Think about it!
Number 2: Show what you are going to do
You are organising an SU with dance classes or movie making. There is no better way to raise people’s interest than demonstrating this. You can make LIP DUB video in front of everybody or film it at home and show it at the plenary break. As we say in Bulgaria “Just fish for the people”.
Number 3: Trigger chain reaction
What is Trigger chain reaction? It’s just the easy way to gain attention by asking not-so-typical questions. Let me give you an example. Two years ago there was an event “Balkan wedding” – a Travelling Summer University by Novi Sad and Patra. So a trigger chain reaction can consist of posters stick all over saying “Have you watched the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”?” or “Do you plan to get married soon?” and things like this. Then after people are confused what it is for, you can finally stick your poster with short catchy explanation of your event. Remarkable, eh? That’s what we are aiming for.
Number 4: Connect it with some world-wide known symbol
There is nothing easier than using already known symbols for helping the promotion of your SU. What do I mean? You are planning a green SU in cooperation with EnWG. Thus for sure you don’t want to print leaflets. Your logo is as well very green. Why don’t you use green apples? They are not so expensive, people would love to have a bite and at the same time will remember you with something sweet. If you have more time you can even carve the dates of the SU….but this can be too time-consuming.
Number 5: Just steal ideas
I have to confess that here I was out of ideas. Maybe it’s inspiration or just I am not the best creative director/copywriter. But then I realise inspiration is provoked by the things we see or we are part of. So the more I was thinking, the more I was realising that there are many good ideas already used. And just few people have remembered them or have stayed in the organisation. So thus my idea number 5 is – “steal” something good that you have seen. Maybe not in AEGEE or not at statutory event – doesn’t matter. As the genius Salvador Dali said years ago “Good artists copy, great artists steal”. Don’t be afraid to repeat someone’s idea, because it’s not always possible to create the Theory of Relativity. But nobody said you can’t use it.
So looking forward to see how creative you would be at the EBM. There are jut few days left!
Written by Liliya Buyukliyska, AEGEE-Sofia